Backgrounder: Governments of Canada and Alberta to bring high-speed Internet access to communities across the province
Backgrounder
On June 14, 2024, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, together with the Honourable Nate Glubish, Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation, announced over $153 million in combined federal and provincial funding to bring high-speed Internet access to over 14,400 underserved households in rural and remote communities across Alberta. The federal contribution was made under the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF).
Here is an overview of Alberta's connectivity status:
- In 2017, 82.6% of Alberta was connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 megabits per second [Mbps] download /10 Mbps upload).
- Currently, 89.4% of Alberta is connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload).
- In 2026, 97.7% of Alberta is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload).
The communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds thanks to projects that are co-funded by the governments of Canada and Alberta are as follows:
Internet service provider | Combined UBF and provincial funding | Number of households to be covered | Communities to benefit | Technology (last mile) | Estimated completion date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UBF-01759 (Swan River First Nation) | $1,350,828 | 149 (all Indigenous) | Swan River First Nation | Fibre | December 2024 |
UBF-02796 (Smith's Landing First Nation and Northwestel Inc.) | $756,846 | 23, of which 20 are Indigenous | Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Settlement (Smith's Landing First Nation), Smith's Landing First Nation | Fibre | March 2025 |
UBF-02891 (TELUS Communications Company) | $4,612,994 | 916, of which 416 are Indigenous | Anzac, Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, Conklin, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McKay First Nation, Draper, Janvier | Fibre | June 2024 |
UBF-03250 (Clearwater County) | $2,332,741 | 337 | Martins Trailer Court, Ferrier Acres, Ullin, Crimson Lake | Fibre | March 2026 |
UBF-03459 (Slave Lake Communications Ltd.) | $2,453,040 | 186 | Marten Beach | Fibre | March 2027 |
UBF-03460 (Slave Lake Communications Ltd.) | $5,722,295 | 514, of which 4 are Indigenous | Canyon Creek, Sawridge First Nation, Widewater, Wagner | Fibre | March 2027 |
UBF-05330 (TELUS Communications Company) | $374,596 | 323, of which 119 are Indigenous | Chipewyan Indian Reserve No. 201A (Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation), Dog Head No. 218 (Mikisew Cree First Nation), Fort Chipewyan | Fixed wireless | December 2024 |
UBF-05375 (TELUS Communications Company) | $174,170 | 110 | Burmis, Beaver Mines | Fixed wireless | December 2025 |
UBF-05391 (TELUS Communications Company) | $181,966 | 117 | Suffield, Ralston | Fixed wireless | March 2027 |
UBF-05649 (TELUS Communications Company) | $179,872 | 36 | Chipewyan Lake | Fixed wireless | March 2027 |
UBF-05746 (TELUS Communications Company) | $195,170 | 28 | Cynthia | Fixed wireless | March 2027 |
UBF-05767 (TELUS Communications Company) | $184,216 | 99 | Cadomin | Fixed wireless | March 2027 |
UBF-05775 (TELUS Communications Company) | $215,362 | 38 | Hazell | Fixed wireless | December 2026 |
UBF-06290 (TELUS Communications Company) | $181,966 | 61 | La Corey | Fixed wireless | December 2025 |
UBF-06366 (TELUS Communications Company) | $181,968 | 25 | Triple Diamond RV Park | Fixed wireless | December 2026 |
UBF-06373 (MCSnet) | $6,712,200 | 705 | Ardmore, Thorhild, Cherry Grove, La Corey (Happy Hollow) | Fibre | March 2026 |
UBF-06539 (TELUS Communications Company) | $195,170 | 41 | Lodgepole | Fixed wireless | March 2027 |
UBF-07119 (Clearwater County) | $32,332,828 | 873 | Chedderville, Burnstick Lake, Butte, Caroline, Crammond | Fibre | March 2026 |
UBF-07121 (Clearwater County) | $13,861,734 | 315 | Codner | Fibre | March 2026 |
UBF-07122 (Clearwater County) | $9,256,528 | 160 | Carlos | Fibre | March 2026 |
UBF-07123 (Clearwater County) | $4,944,592 | 299 | Nordegg, Saunders, Horburg | Fibre | March 2026 |
UBF-35790 (Xplore) | $63,213,892 | 8,888 | Coutts, Milk River, Warner, Grassy Lake, Johnson's Addition, Barnwell, Taber, Purple Springs, Fincastle, Okotoks, Provost, Bashaw, Rochon Sands, White Sands, Cochrane, Cochrane Lake Subdivision, De Winton, Sundre, Bentley, Gull Lake, Parkland Beach, Meeting Creek, Killam, Viking, Tofield, Mulhurst, Poplar Bay, Grandview, Crystal Springs, Ma-Me-O Beach, Silver Beach, Argentia Beach, Golden Days, Sundance Beach, Two Hills, Bruderheim, Ardrossan, Cooking Lake, Collingwood Cove, Half Moon Estates, Beaumont, Rolly View, Spring Lake, Willingdon, Clearwater Estates, Crystal Meadows, Dawn Valley, Garden Grove Estates, Green Acre Estates, Hubbles Lake, Panorama Heights, Peterburn Estates, Rolling Heights, Westlake Estates, Athabasca, Island Lake, Island Lake South, Whispering Hills, West Baptiste, South Baptiste, Sunset Beach, Pipestone, Raymond Shores, Meridian Beach, Wilson's Beach, Birch Bay, Sandy Point, Dorchester Ranch, Bearspaw, Springbank | Fibre | March 2027 |
UBF-3509 (Lubicon Lake Band #453 / Mighty Peace Wireless) | $2,480,312 | 118 (all Indigenous) | Little Buffalo (Lubicon Lake) | Fibre | December 2026 |
UBF-04760 (Kananaskis Improvement District) | $1,118,871 | 68 | Kananaskis Village Area | Fibre | December 2025 |
Related Product
News Release: Expanding high-speed Internet access in Alberta
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